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3 


THE 


CONSTITUTION  AND  STATUTES 


OF    THE 


THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY, 


ANDOVER. 


ANDOVER: 

GOULD,  NEWMAN  AND  SAXTON,  PRINTERS. 

1839. 


CONSTITUTION 


THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY 


It  having  pleased  the  Father  of  lights  and  Author  of  all  good 
to  inspire  the  late  Honorable  Samuel  Phillips  of  Andover  in 
the  County  of  Essex  and  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  Es- 
quire, and  the  late  Honorable  John  Phillips  of  Exeter  in  the 
County  of  Rockingham  and  State  of  New  Hampshire  Esquire, 
with  the  pious  determination  to  make  "  a  humble  dedication  to 
their  Heavenly  Benefactor  of  the  ability,  wherewith  He  had  bles- 
sed them,"  by  laying,  in  the  year  1778,  in  the  South  Parish  in 
Andover  aforesaid,  the  foundation  of  a  public  Academy,  for  the 
instruction  of  youth,  not  only  in  the  learned  Languages  and  in 
various  useful  Arts  and  Sciences,  but  principally  for  the  promo- 
tion of  true  PIETY  and  virtue  ; — it  having  also  pleased  the  IN- 
FINITE MIND,  at  subsequent  periods,  to  excite  the  said  John 
Phillips,  and  likewise  the  late  Hon.  William  Phillips  of 
Boston  in  the  County  of  Suffolk  and  Commonwealth  aforesaid 
Esquire,  to  make  libera!  provision,  not  only  for  "  promoting  the 
virtuous  and  pious  education  of  indigent  youth  of  genius,  and  of 
serious  disposition,  in  said  Academy  ;"  but  "  more  especially  for 
the  benefit  of  charity  Scholars  of  excelling  genius,  good  moral 
character,  hopefully  pious,  and  designed  for  the  great  and  good 
work  of  the  gospel  ministry,  who,  having  acquired  the  most  use- 
ful human  literature,  may  be  assisted  in  tlie  study  of  Divinity, 
under  the  direction  of  some  eminent  Calvinistic  Minister  of  the 
gospel,  until  such  time,  as  an  able,  pious,  and  orthodox  Instruc- 
tor shall  be  supported  in  the 'said  Academy,  as  a  Professor  of 
Divinity,  by  whom  they  may  be  taught  the  important  and  distin- 
guishing tenets  of  our  Holy  Christian  Religion.'' 


In  pursuance  therefore  of  the  same  benevolent  and  pious  ob- 
ject, and  with  a  desire  to  devote  a  part  of  the  substance,  with 
which  Heaven  has  blessed  us,  to  the  defense  and  promotion  of 
the  Christian  Religion,  by  making  some  provision-  for  increasing 
the  number  of  learned  and  able  Defenders  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ  as  well,  as  of  orthodox,  pious,  and  zealous  Ministers 
of  the  New  Testament  ;  being  moved  by  the  same  Spirit, 
which  actuated  the  Founders  and  Benefactors  aforesaid,  and 
influenced,  as  we  hope,  by  a  principle  of  gratitude  to  God  and 
benevolence  to  man  ; — 

We,  Phebe  Phillips  of  said  Andover,  Relict  of  Samuel 
Phillips  Esq.  late  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  Commonwealth 
aforesaid,  and  John  Phillips,  son  of  the  said  Samuel  Phillips 
and  Phebe  Phillips  do  hereby  jointly  and  severally  obligate 
ourselves  to  erect  and  finish,  with  all  convenient  dispatch,  two 
separate  buildings  ;  one  of  which  to  be  three  stories  high,  and 
of  such  other  dimensions,  as  to  furnish  convenient  lodging 
rooms  for  fifty  Students  ;  and  the  other  building  to  be  two  stories 
high,  and  of  such  dimensions,  as  to  furnish,  in  addition  to  a 
kitchen  and  private  rooms  necessary  to  a  Steward's  family,  three 
public  rooms,  one  for  a  dining  Hall,  one  for  a  Chapel  and 
Lecture  room,  (each  sufficiently  large  to  accommodate  sixty 
Students)  and  the  third  for  a  Library,  the  said  buildings  to  be  lo- 
cated by  direction  of  the  Trustees  of  Phillips  Academy  ; 
— and  I,  Samuel  Abbot  of  Andover  aforesaid  Esquire,  with  the 
same  views,  and  in  furtlierance  of  the  same  design,  do  hereby 
give,  assign,  and  set  over  unto  the  Trustets:  aforesaid  the  sum 
of  twenty  thousand  dollars,  in  trust,  as  a  Fund  for  the  purpose 
of  maintaining  a  professor  of  Christian  Theology  (reserving  to 
myself  tlie  right  of  appointing  the  Srst  Professor  oirthis  Foun- 
dation) and  for  the  support  and  encouragement  of  Students  in 
Divinity  ;  both  the  said  buildings  and  the  interest  or  annual 
income  of  the  said  sum  of  money  to  be  forever  appropr  aled 
and  applied  by  the  Trustees  aforesaid  for  the  use  and  endow- 
ment of  such  a  public  Theological  Institution  in  Phillips 
Academy,  as  is  herein  after  described,  and  on  the  following 
express  conditions,  viz.  that  the  said  Institution  be  accepted 


by  the  Trustees  aforesaid,  and  that  it  be  forever  conducted 
and  governed  by  them,  and  their  Successors,  in  conformity  to 
the  following  general  Principles  and  Regulations,  which  we 
unitedly  adopt  and  ratify  as  the  Constitution  of  the  same,  re- 
serving to  ourselves,  however,  during  our  natural  lives  the  full 
right,  jointly  to  make  any  additional  Regulations,  or  to  alter  any 
Rule,  herein  prescribed;  provided  such  Regulation  or  Alteration 
be  not  prejudicial  to  the  true  design  of  this  Foundation. 

Art.  I.  This  Institution  or  Seminary  shall  be  equally 
open  to  Protestants  of  every  denomination  for  the  admission  of 
young  men  of  requisite  qualifications. 

Art.  II.  Every  Candidate  for  admission  into  this  Semina- 
ry shall  produce  satisfactory  evidence,  that  he  possesses  good 
natural  and  acquired  talents,  has  honorably  completed  a  course 
of  liberal  education,  and  sustains  a  fair  moral  character.  He 
shall  also  declare  that  it  is  his  serious  intention  to  devote  him- 
self to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry,  (unless  in  certain  pecu- 
liar cases  it  appear  to  the  Trustees,  or  a  Committee  of  their 
appointment,  that  the  object  of  this  Institution  will  be  pro- 
moted by  excusing  a  pious  Applicant  from  making  this  declara- 
tion) and  exhibit  proper  testimonials  of  his  being  in  full  com- 
munion with  some  Church  of  Christ  ;  in  default  of  which  he 
shall  subscribe  a  declaration  of  his  belief  of  the  Christian 
Religion. 

Art.  III.  The  Students  in  this  Seminary  shall  be  aided  in 
their  preparation  for  the  ministry  by  able  Professors  ;  whose 
duty  it  shall  be,  by  public  and  private  instruction,  to  unlock  the 
treasures  of  divine  knowledge,  to  direct  the  Pupils  in  their  in- 
quiries after  sacred  truth,  to  guard  them  against  religious  error, 
and  to  accelerate  their  acquisition  of  heavenly  wisdom. 

Art.  IV.  The  public  instruction  shall  be  given  in  Lectures 
on  Natural  Theology,  Sacred  Literature,  Ecclesiastical  History, 
Christian  Theology,  and  Pulpit  Eloquence. 

Art.  V.  in  the  Lectures  on  Natural  Theology,  the  exist- 
ence, attributes,  and  providence  of  God,  shall  be  demonstrated  ; 
the  soul's  immortality  and  a  future  state,  as  deducible  from  the 
light  of  nature,  discussed  ;  the  obligations  of  man  to  his  Maker, 


resulting  from  the  divine  perfections  and  his  own  rational  nature, 
enforced  ;  the  great  duties  of  social  life,  flowing  from  the  mu- 
tual relations  of  man  to  man,  inculcated  ;  and  the  several  per- 
sonal virtues  deduced  and  delineated  ;  the  whole  being  inter- 
spersed with  remarks  on  the  coincidence  between  the  dictates 
of  reason  and  the  doctrines  of  revelation,  in  these  primary  points  ; 
and,  notwithstanding  such  coincidence,  the  necessity  and  utility 
of  a  divine  revelation  stated. 

Art.  VI.  Under  the  head  of  Sacred  Literature  shall  be  in- 
cluded Lectures  on  the  formation,  preservation,  and  transmission 
of  the  Sacred  Volume  ;  on  the  languages,  in  which  the  Bible 
was  originally  written  ;  on  the  Septuagint  version  of  the  old 
Testament,  and  on  tlie  peculiarities  of  the  language  and  style 
of  the  new  Testament,  resulting  from  this  version  and  other 
causes  ;  on  the  history,  character,  use,  and  authority  of  the 
ancient  versions  and  manuscripts  of  the  old  and  new  Testaments  ; 
on  the  canons  of  biblical  criticism  ;  on  the  authenticity  of  the 
several  books  of  the  sacred  Code  ;  on  the  a])ocryphal  books  of 
both  Testaments  ;  on  modern  translations  of  the  Bible,  more 
particularly  on  the  history  and  character  of  our  English  version  ; 
and  also  critical  Lectures  on  the  various  readings  and  difficult 
passages  in  the  sacred  writings. 

Art.  VIL  Under  tlie  iiead  of  Ecclesiastical  History  shall 
be  comprised  Lectures  on  Jewish  antiquities  ;  on  the  origin  and 
extension  of  the  Christian  church  in  the  first  three  centuries  ; 
on  the  various  sects  and  heresies  in  tlie  early  ages  of  Chris- 
tianity ;  on  the  character  and  writings  of  the  Fathers  ;  on  the 
establishment  of  Christianity  by  Constantine,  and  its  subse- 
quent efiects  ;  on  the  rise  and  progress  of  popery  and  Moham- 
medanism ;  on  the  corruptions  of  the  church  of  Rome  ;  on  the 
grounds,  progress,  and  doctrines  of  the  reformation  ;  on  the 
different  denon)inaiions  among  Protestants  ;  on  the  various 
constitutions,  discipline,  and  ritesof  worship,  which  have  divided, 
or  may  still  divide  the  Cliristian  church  ;  on  the  state  and  pre- 
valence of  Paganism,  in  our  world  ;  and  on  the  effect,  w  hich 
idolatry,  Mohammedanism,  and  Christianity  have  respectively 
produced  on  individual  and  national  character. 


Art.  VIII.  Under  the  head  of  Christian  Theology  shall  be 
comprehended  Lectures  on  divine  revelation  ;  on  the  inspiration 
and  truth  of  the  old  and  new  Testaments,  as  proved  by  miracles, 
internal  evidence,  fulfilment  of  prophecies,  and  historic  facts  ; 
on  the  great  doctrines  and  duties  of  our  holy  Christian  Reli- 
gion, together  with  the  objections,  made  to  them  by  unbelievers, 
and  the  refutation  of  such  objections  ;  more  particularly  on  the  re- 
vealed character  of  Goo,  as  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost ;  on 
the  fall  of  man  and  the  depravity  of  human  nature  ;  on  the  cove- 
nant of  grace  ;  on  the  character,  offices,  atonement,  and  media- 
tion of  Jesus  Christ ;  on  the  character  and  offices  of  the  Holy 
Spirit ;  on  the  Scripture  doctrines  of  regeneration,  justification, 
and  sanctification  ;  on  evangelical  repentance,  faith,  and  obedi- 
ence ;  on  the  nature  and  necessity  of  true  virtue  or  gospel  holi- 
ness ;  on  the  future  state,  the  immortality  of  soul  and  body^  and 
the  eternity  of  future  rewards  and  punishments,  as  revealed  in 
the  gospel ;  on  the  positive  institutions  of  Christianity  ;  on  the 
nature,  interpretation,  and  use  of  prophecy  ;  and  on  personal  re- 
ligion, as  a  qualification  for  the  ministry  ;  each  Lecture  under 
this  head  to  be  preceded  and  followed  by  prayer. 

Art.  IX.  Under  the  head  of  Pulpit  Eloquence  shall  be  de- 
livered a  competent  number  of  Lectures  on  the  importance  of 
oratory  ;  on  the  invention  and  disposition  of  topics ;  on  the  several 
parts  of  a  regular  discourse  ;  on  elegance,  composition,  and  dig- 
nity in  style  ;  on  pronunciation,  or  the  proper  management  of 
the  voice  and  correct  gesture  ;  on  the  immense  importance  of  a 
natural  manner ;  on  the  rules,  to  be  observed  in  composing  a  ser- 
mon, and  on  the  adaptation  of  the  principles  and  precepts  of  an- 
cient rhetoric  to  this  modern  species  of  oration  ;  on  the  qualities  in 
the  speaker,  in  his  style,  and  in  his  delivery,  necessary  to  a  finish- 
ed pulpit  Orator ;  on  the  methods  of  strengthening  the  memory, 
and  of  improving  in  sacred  eloquence  ;  on  the  character  and  style 
of  the  most  eminent  Divines  and  best  models  for  imitation,  their 
respective  beauties  and  excellencies  in  thought  and  expression  ; 
and  above  all,  on  the  transcendent  simplicity,  beauty,  and  sub- 
limity of  the  Sacred  Writings. 

Art.  X.     It  shall  be  the   duty  of  the  Professors,  hy private 


8 

instruction  and  advice,  to  aid  the  Students  in  the  acquisition  of 
a  radical  and  adequate  knowledife  of  the  sacred  Scriptures  in 
their  original  languages,  and  of  the  old  Testament  in  the  Sep- 
tuagint  version  ;  to  direct  their  method  of  studying  the  Bible 
and  all  other  writiu'^s  ;  to  superintend  and  animate  their  pursuits 
by  frequent  inquiries  and  examinations,  relative  to  their  progress 
in  books  and  knowledge  ;  to  assign  proper  subjects  for  their  first 
compositions,  and  to  suggest  a  natural  method  of  treating  them  ; 
frequently  and  critically  to  examine  their  early  productions,  and 
in  a  free,  but  friendly  manner,  to  point  out  their  defects  and  errors, 
in  grammar,  method,  reasoning,  style,  and  sentiment ;  to  improve 
them  in  the  important  art  of  reading,  and  to  give  them  opportuni- 
ties of  speaking  in  public,  favoring  them  with  their  candid  re- 
marks on  their  whole  manner  ;  to  explain  intricate  texts  of  Scrip- 
ture, referred  to  them  ;  to  solve  cases  of  conscience  ;  to  watch 
over  their  health  and  morals  with  paternal  solicitude  ;  and  by  every 
prudent  and  christian  method,  to  promote  the  growth  of  true  piety 
in  their  hearts  ;  to  give  them  friendly  advice  with  relation  to  their 
necessary  intercourse  among  men  in  the  various  walks  of  life, 
and  especially  with  respect  to  the  manner,  in  which  it  becomes 
a  minister  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus  to  address  both  God  and 
man,  whether  in  the  assembly  of  his  saints,  or  in  the  chamber  of 
sickness  and  of  death. 

Art.  XI.  Every  Professor  in  this  Seminary  shall  be  a  Mas- 
ter of  Arts,  of  the  Protestant  reformed  religion,  in  communion 
with  some  Christian  Church  of  the  Congregational  or  Presbyteri- 
an denomination,  and  sustain  the  character  of  a  sober,  honest,  learn- 
ed, and  pious  man  ;  he  shall  moreover  be  a  man  of  sound  and 
orthodox  principles  in  Divinity,  according  to  that  form  of  sound 
words  or  system  of  evangelical  doctrines,  drawn  from  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  denominated  the  Westminster  Assembly's  shorter  Cate- 
chisn),  and  more  concisely  delineated  in  the  Constitution  of 
Phillips  Academy. 

Art.  XII.  Every  person  therefore,  appointed  or  elected  a 
Professor  in  this  Seminary,  shall  on  the  day  of  his  inauguration 
into  oflice,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  said  Trustees,  publicly 
make  and  subscribe  a  solemn   Declaration  of  his  faith  in   divine 


revelation,  and  in  the  fundamental  and  distinguishing  doctrines  of 
the  gospel  of  Christ,  as  summarily  expressed  in  the  Westmin- 
ster Assembly's  shorter  Catechism;  and  he  shall  furthermore  sol- 
emnly promise,  that  he  will  open  and  explain  the  Scriptures  to 
his  Pupils  with  integrity  and  faithfulness  ;  that  he  will  maintain 
and  inculcate  the  Christian  faith,  as  above  expressed,  together 
with  all  the  other  doctrines  and  duties  of  our  holy  religion,  so  far 
as  may  appertain  to  his  office,  according  to  the  best  light,  God 
shall  give  him  ;  and  in  opposition,  not  only  to  Atheists  and  Infi- 
dels, but  to  Jews,  Mohammedans,  Arians,  Pelagians,  Antinomians, 
Arminians,  Socinians,  Unitarian?,  and  Universalists,  and  to  all 
other  heresies  and  errors,  ancient  or  modern,  which  may  be  oppo- 
sed to  the  gospel  of  Christ,  or  hazardous  to  the  souls  of  men  ; — 
that  by  his  instructions,  counsels,  and  example,  he  will  endeavor 
to  promote  true  Piety  and  Godliness  ;  that  he  will  consult  the 
good  of  this  Institution  and  the  peace  of  the  churches  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  on  all  occasions  ;  and  that  he  will  reli- 
giously observe  the  Statutes  of  this  Institution,  relative  to  his 
official  duties  and  deportment,  and  all  such  other  Statutes  and 
Laws,  as  shall  be  constitutionally  made  by  the  Trustees  of 
Phillips  Academy,  not  repugnant  thereto. 

Art.  XIII.  The  preceding  Declaration  shall  be  repeated 
by  every  Professor  in  this  Seminary,  in  the  presence  of  the  said 
Trustees,  at  the  expiration  of  every  successive  period  of  five 
years  ;  and  no  man  shall  be  continued  a  Professor  in  this  Insti- 
tution, who  shall  not  continue  to  apjirove  himself,  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  said  Trustees,  a  man  oi sound  and  orthodox  prin- 
ciples in  Divinity,  agreeably  to  the  system  of  evangelical  doc- 
trines, contained  in  the  aforesaid  Catechism.  Accordingl}^,  if  at 
any  meeting  regularly  appointed,  it  should  be  proved  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  the  said  Trus- 
tees, that  any  Professor  in  this  Institution  has  taught  or  em- 
braced any  of  the  heresies  or  errors,  alluded  to  in  the  Declaration 
aforesaid  ;  or,  should  he  refuse  to  repeat  the  same,  as  herein  re- 
quired, he  shall  be  forthwith  removed  from  office. 

Art.  XIV.     Every  Professor  in  this  Institution  shall  be 
under  the  immediate  inspection  of  the  said  Trustees  ;  and  by 
2 


10 

them  removed,  agreeably  to  the  will  of  his  Founder,  for  gross 
neglect  of  duty,  scandalous  immorality,  mental  incapacity,  or  any 
other  just  and  sufficient  cause. 

Art.  XV.  Whenever  a  Professor  in  tliis  Seminary  shall  be 
removed  by  dcaili  or  otherwise  ;  the  said  Trustees  shall  elect 
a   Successor  within  twelve  months. 

Art.  XVI.  The  Trustees  aforesaid,  in  conformity  to  the 
Statutes  of  every  Founder,  shall  assign  to  tlie  Professors  in  this 
Se^iinary  their  respective  departments  of  instruction,  the  times 
for  reading  their  lectures,  and  their  several  public  and  private 
duties,  in  such  manner,  as.  after  consultation  with  the  said  Profes- 
sors, shall  to  the  said  Trustees  appear  most  convenient  and  use- 
ful ;  provided  however,  that  the  course  of  lectures  in  each  de- 
partment be  always  completed  within  the  space  of  three  years. 

Art.  XVil.  The  necessary  expenses  of  indigent  Students 
at  this  Seminary,  for  board,  lodging,  washing,  fuel,  and  light, 
will  be  defrayed  out  of  funds,  appropriated  to  this  purpose,  agreea- 
bly to  the  Regulations,  in  such  case  provided,  and  as  said  funds 
may  permit. 

Art.  XVIII.  No  person  shall  be  admitted  a  Student  on  the 
charitable  Foundation,  who  is  not  distinguished  by  natural  abili- 
ties, literary  acquirements,  unblemished  morals,  and  hopeful  piety  ; 
a  certificate  of  which  qualities  will  be  required  from  known  and 
respectable  characters,  in  order  to  the  enjoyment  of  this  charity. 

Art.  XIX.  To  be  entitled  to  the  mainte«ance  aforesaid,  each 
Student  on  the  charitable  Foundation,  unless  prevented  by  sick- 
ness, must  reside  at  this  Seminary  eight  months  at  least  in  each 
year,  regularly  attending  the  exercises  aforesaid  as  well,  as  dili- 
gently prosecuting  the  studies  prescribed,  and  in  all  respects  conk- 
forming  to  the  Rules  of  this  Constitution,  and  to  the  Laws  and 
Orders  of  the  said  Trustees. 

Art.  XX.  Whatever  may  be  the  number  of  vacations,  the 
aggregate  thereof  shall  not  exceed  twelve  weeks  in  any  one 
year  ;  and  the  constant  presence  of  the  Professors  and  Students 
will  be  expected  in  term  time. 

Art.  XXI.  Every  Student  in  this  Seminary  shall  constantly, 
punctually,  and  seriously  attend  the  religious  exercises  of  the 


11 

chapel  morning  and  evening,  and  all  the  public  lectures  of  the 
several  Professors  ;  and,  to  increase  the  reverence,  due  to  reli- 
gious institutions,  as  well,  as  to  give  weight  to  public  instruction, 
it  is  expected,  that  the  Piofessors  not  only  frequent  the  chapel  at 
morning  and  evening  prayers,  but  that  they  constantly  attend  each 
other's  public  lectures. 

Art.  XXII.  Every  student  in  this  Seminary  is  required  to 
devote  so  much  time  to  the  study  of  the  learned  languages,  as 
shall  increase  his  knowledge  of  them,  especially  of  the  Greek  and 
Hebrew  languages;  to  pay  due  attention  to  Philology,  Rhetoric, 
and  Oratory  ;  to  read  the  best  treatises  on  natural  and  revealed 
Religior>,  and  on  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Gospel ;  to 
make  himself  master  of  the  principal  arguments  and  evidences 
of  the  truth  of  Christianity;  to  pay  due  attention  to  ecclesiastical 
History,  and  to  the  canons  of  biblical  Criticism.  But  above  all, 
it  is  required,  that  he  make  the  BIBLE  the  object  of  his  most 
attentive,  diligent,  and  prayerful  study. 

Art.  XXin.  It  will  be  the  duty  of  the  Professors  in  this 
Seminary  to  prepare  a  list  of  such  books,  and  to  point  out  such  a 
course  of  study,  as  in  their  opinion  may  be  the  most  congenial  to 
the  true  design  of  this  Institution,  and  most  beneficial  to  the  Stu- 
dents in  it ;  which  list  of  books  and  course  of  study,  being  ap- 
proved by  said  Trustees,  said  Students  shall  pursue  ;  they  shall 
also  frequently  ask  the  advice  and  assistance  of  the  Professors 
with  reference  to  their  studies  ;  and  often  submit  their  theological 
compositions,  especially  their  first  essays,  to  the  friendly  inspec- 
tion and  faithful  remarks  of  one  or  more  of  the  said  Professors. 

Art.  XXIV.  Each  student,  once  at  least  in  every  year,  shall 
acquaint  the  Professors  with  the  books,  he  has  read,  and  with  his 
course  of  study,  during  said  year;  and  shall  also  be  examined  in 
the  original  languages  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  and  in  the 
Septuagint  version  of  the  former;  also  with  reference  to  the  lead- 
ing sentiments  and  arguments  of  the  principal  authors,  he  has 
perused  ;  but  especially  with  respect  to  the  style,  character,  and 
design  of  those  sacred  writers,  which  agreeably  to  direction  he  has 
particularly  studied. 

AR*r.  XXV.  If  upon  due  and  impartial  examination  it  be  found, 


12 

that  any  Student  on  the  charitable  Foundation  aforesaid,  has  not 
made  reasonable  proficiency  in  the  studies,  prescribed  him,  he 
shall  be  continued  thereon  no  longer;  and,  if  any  Student  whatev- 
er in  this  Seminary  shall  be  guilty  of  any  gross  inmiorality,  or  of 
any  insult  or  oppugnation  to  the  said  Trustees,  or  to  any  Pro- 
fessor or  Officer  of  this  Seminary,  he  shall  be  cut  oft'  from  all  the 
advantages  and  benefits  of  this  Institution,  unless  he  make  rea- 
sonable and  immediate  satisfaction  for  his  offence. 

Akt.  XXVI.  Whenever  a  Student  shall  have  honorably  fin- 
ished his  term  and  course  of  study  under  the  direction  of  the  Pro- 
fessors, and  such  Student  shall  request  it  ;  a  Certificate,  signed 
by  the  Professors,  specifying  how  long  such  Student  has  studied 
under  the  dii-ection,  and  attended  the  lectures  of  the  Professors, 
that  he  has  prosecuted  his  studies  with  diligence,  and  sustained  a 
good  moral  character,  shall  be  given  him  ;  provided  always,  that 
his  conduct,  and  proficiency  in  theological  know  ledge  be  such,  as 
to  merit  the  same. 

Art.  XXVII.  After  the  expiration  of  the  first  three  years 
from  the  opening  of  this  Institution,  it  will  be  required  of  all 
persons,  who  may  wish  to  enjoy  the  advantages  of  the  same,  that 
they  statedly  reside  at  the  Seminary  three  full  years,  vacations 
excepted  ;  a  period  scarcely  sufiicient  for  acquiiing  that  fund  of 
knowledge,  which  is  necessary  for  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  No 
Student  therefore,  after  the  expiration  of  the  first  three  years  of 
the  Institution,  shall  be  entitled  to  the  Certificate  aforesaid  ; 
nor  can  any  one  leave  the  Seminary  in  an  honorable  manner, 
within  the  term  of  three  years  of  such  residence,  except  by  per- 
mission, specially  obtained  of  the  Trustees,  in  case  of  necessity. 

Art.  XXVIII.  Every  morning  and  evening,  during  the  ternt 
time,  religious  exercises  shall  be  performed  in  the^ chapel,  and 
these  exercises  shall  usually  be,  as  follows.  The  divine  assistance 
and  blessing  shall  be  first  implored  in  a  short  prayer ;  a  devotional 
chapter  or  psalm  shall  then  be  read,  accompanied  with  ))ious  and 
practical  reflections  ;  or,  instead  of  this,  once  at  least  in  every 
week,  an  ex|)osilioi)  shall  he  given  upon  some  deeply  interesting 
passage  of  scripture;  to  tliis  shall  succeed  a  piece  of  genuine 
psalmody  ;  and  the  services  be  concluded  by  an  appropriate  prayer. 


13 

In  these  exercises  the  Professors  shall  preside,  and  ordinarily 
officiate  ;  but  Students  of  two  years  standing  may  occasionally 
perform  them  in  whole  or  in  part,  according  to  the  desire  and  di- 
rection of  the  Professors.  JMoreover  as  soon,  as  circumstances 
will  permit,  a  regular  Church  will  be  formed  in  this  Seminary, 
consisting  chiefly  of  the  Professors,  Students,  and  families,  con- 
nected with  this  Seminary  and  Phillips  Academy;  after  which, 
if  not  before,  divine  services  will  be  publicly  celebrated  in  the 
chapel  of  the  Seminary,  in  the  forenoon  and  afternoon  of  every 
Lord's  day,  during  term  time.  These  services  shall  be  usually 
performed  by  the  Professors  ;  but  sometimes  by  such  senior  Stu- 
dents, as  may  have  obtained  permission  of  the  Professors  to  preach 
occasionally  ;  and  they  shall  be  attended  by  all  the  Students  of  this 
Institution,  and  by  as  many  of  the  families  of  the  Professors 
and  Officers,  connected  with  it, or  with  Phillips  Academy,  as  may 
wish  for  this  privilege,  and  by  as  many  pupils  of  said  Academy, 
as  may  be  deemed  expedient  by  the  Trustees  aforesaid. 

Art.  XXIX.  The  senior  Students  will  be  required,  not  only 
to  prepare  sermons,  but  occasionally  to  deliver  them  in  public, 
both  in  the  Seminary  and  in  neiglibouring  congregations,  as  may 
be  judged  expedient  by  the  said  Professors.  No  Student  how- 
ever shall  presume  to  preach,  before,  upon  thorough  examination 
of  his  qualifications  and  motives  for  preaching,  he  shall  have  ob- 
tained a  written  permission  therefor,  subscribed  by  the  Professors, 
or  a  major  part  of  them.  This  permission  however  is  never  to 
supersede  the  customary  approbation  or  license  of  some  regular 
Association  or  Presbytery. 

Art.  XXX.  Sacred  Music,  and  especially  Psalmody,  being 
an  important  part  of  public,  social  worship;  and  as  it  is  proper 
for  those,  who  are  to  preside  in  the  assemblies  of  God's  people, 
to  possess  themselves  of  so  much  skill  and  taste  in  this  sublime  art, 
as  at  least  to  distinguish  betu'een  those  solemn  movements,  which 
are  congenial  to  pious  minds,  and  those  unhallowed,  trifling,  med- 
ley pieces  which  chill  devotion  ;  it  is  expected,  that  serious  atten- 
tion will  be  paid  to  the  culture  of  a  true  taste  for  genuine  Church 
Music  in  this  Seminary  ;  and  that  all  Students  therein,  who  have 
tolerable  voices,  will  be  duly  instructed  in  the  theory  and  practice 


14 

of  this  celestial  art  ;  and  whenever  it  shall  be  in  the  power  of 
either  of  the  said  Professors,  it  shall  accordingly  be  his  duty  to 
afford  this  necessary  instruction  ;  and  whenever  this  shall  not  be 
the  case,  it  is  expected,  that  an  Instructor  will  be  procured  for 
this  purpose. 

Art.  XXXI.  All  Professors,  Officers,  and  Students  in 
this  Seminary,  and  all  other  persons,  employed  in  its  service, 
together  with  the  Lands,  Buildings,  Library,  Funds,  and  all 
other  Property,  thereto  belonging  ;  shall  be  under  the  immediate 
inspection  and  government  of  the  Trustees  aforesaid  ;  and  be 
regulated  and  managed  by  them  in  strict  conformity  to  this 
Constitution,  and  to  the  Statutes  and  Will  of  every  Founder 
of  a  Professorshij),  or  B en efactoj-  o( this  Institution.  And  the 
said  Trustees  are  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to  make 
such  additional  Regulations,  (not  inconsistent  with  the  Regu- 
lations, established  in  this  Constitution ,  nor  with  the  Statutes  or 
Will  of  any  Founder  or  Donor,  nor  w  ith  the  object  of  this  In- 
stitution, nor  in  any  degree  avoiding  them  or  either  of  them) 
as  they  in  their  wisdom  shall  deem  necessary  to  give  the  fullest 
efficacy  to  these  provisions,  or  to  the  consistent  provisions  of 
future  Benefactors  ;  whether  such  Regulations  may  relate  to 
the  conduct  of  the  Professors,  the  government  of  the  Students, 
their  various  duties  and  exercises,  their  lodging  and  diet,  the 
prevention  and  punishment  of  offences,  the  preservation  of 
health,  the  promotion  of  order,  peace,  and  harmony,  to  the 
safety  of  the  Buildings,  or  to  the  security  of  the  Funds,  which 
last  are  to  be  effectually  guarded  against  all  loss  and  diminution  ; 
in  a  word,  to  do  every  thing,  under  the  foregoing  limitations, 
which,  upon  serious  and  mature  deliberation,  may  appear  to 
them  necessary  to  secure  and  promote  the  true  object  of  this 
Institution. 

Art.  XXXIl.  Notwithstanding  this  Seminary  is  placed  by 
this  Constitution  under  the  immediate  caie  and  government  of 
the  Trustees  of  Phillips  Academy  ;  it  is  always  to  be  under- 
stood, and  it  is  hereby  expressly  declared,  that  every  Founder 
of  a  Professorship,  Scholarship,  or  any  other  Living  whatever,  in 
this  Institution,  will  have  the  exclusive  right  of  prescribing  the 


15 

Regulations  and  Statutes,  to  be  observed  by  the  said  Trustees 
in  conducting  the  concerns  of  the  same,  said  Regulations  and 
Statutes  being  always  consistent  with  the  principles  and  oi)ject  of 
this  Institution  ;  and  also  the  right,  for  the  term  of  his  life,  of 
appointing  in  the  original  deed  or  grant,  such  local  Visitor  or 
Visitors,  as  he  may  think  proper,  and  to  endow  hiin  or  them 
with  all  visitatorial  powers  and  authorities,  necessary  to  secure  and 
enforce  due  observance  and  execution  of  his  said  Regulations 
and  Statutes. 

Art.  XXXIII.  Whereas  the  necessary  business  of  this 
Seminary  will  be  sufficient  to  employ  the  said  Trustees  one 
day  at  least  in  every  year  ;  they  are  requested  to  hold  an  annual 
meeting  for  transacting  the  same,  on  such  day  in  each  year,  as 
they  may  appoint ;  and  likewise  to  meet  as  much  oftener,  as  the 
good'of  said  Seminary  may  require  ;  and  at  each  annual  meeting 
to  read  this  Constitution.  The  rules  and  modes  of  doing  busi- 
ness at  all  such  meetings  shall  be  the  same,  mutatis  mutandis, 
which  are  prescribed  in  the  Constitution  of  Phillips  Academy. 
Decent,  not  extravagant  entertainment  shall  be  made  for  the 
Trustees,  while  attending  such  meetings  ;  reasonable  compen- 
sation made  to  the  Treasurer  of  said  Academy  for  his  services  ; 
and  other  necessary  expenses  of  this  Institution  defrayed  out 
of  the  income  of  its  Funds.  It  is  also  particularly  requested, 
that  all  the  transactions  of  the  said  Trustees,  relative  to  the 
said  Theological  Institution,  be  recorded  in  a  distinct  book  ; 
and  likewise  that  all  property  given,  devised  or  bequeathed  for 
the  support  of  this  Seminary,  be  separated,  and  forever  kept  dis- 
tinct from  all  other  property,  to  the  Trustees  aforesaid  in  any 
way  or  for  any  other  purpose  entrusted,  being  never  blended 
therewith,  in  any  part  or  degree,  by  loan  or  purchase  ;  and  that 
the  said  Treasurer  accordingly  keep  all  his  accounts  and  entries, 
relative  to  these  Funds,  in  distinct  books  ;  and  all  monies,  evi- 
dences of  property,  receipts,  papers,  and  books  of  account,  ap- 
pertaining to  this  Institution,  in  a  separate  trunk  or  chest,  pre- 
pared for  prompt  removal  on  any  emergence  ;  and  that  the  ac- 
".ounts  of  said  Treasurer  be  annually  audited  by  a  Committee, 
"jr  this  purpose  appointed,  who  shall  report  to  the  said  Trus- 
tees in  writing. 


16 

Art.  XXXIV.  Confiding  in  the  wisdom  and  fidelity  of  the 
said  Trustees  and  their  Successors  in  office,  and  with  the 
pleasing  hope  and  expectation,  that  they  will  religiously  appro- 
priate the  aforesaid  Buildings,  and  the  income  of  the  aforesaid 
Fund,  and  of  all  future  Donations  for  the  same  pious  purpose, 
to  the  great  object  of  supporting  a  Theological  Seminary,  such 
as  herein  contemplated  and  described,  agreeably  to  the  Princi- 
ples and  Regulations,  contained  in  this  Constitution  ;  we  do  now 
under  God  cheerfully  commit  this  our  Foundation  to  their  pious 
and  watchful  care  ;  trusting  that  no  exertion  on  their  part  will 
be  wanting  to  the  success  of  an  Institution,  so  intimately  con- 
nected with  the  glory  of  God,  the  advancement  of  the  Redee- 
mer's kingdom,  and  the  salvation  of  their  fellow  men. 

But,  while  we  thus  express  our  conviction  of  the  necessity 
and  utility  of  this  Institution,  it  is  our  earnest  prayer,  that 
our  own  minds,  and  the  minds  of  the  Trustees,  Professors, 
Students,  and  all  connected  therewith,  may  be  ever  penetra- 
ted by  a  deep  sense  of  the  necessity  of  the  Divine  direction, 
influence,  and  blessing,  to  render  even  the  wisest  provisions  and 
the  best  human  instructions  ultimately  successful. 

To  the  Spirit  of  truth,  to  the  Divine  Author  of  our  faith, 
to  the  only  Wise  GOD,  we  desire  in  sincerity  to  present  this  our 
humble  offering  ;  devoutly  imploring  the  Father  of  lights,  rich- 
ly to  endue  with  wisdom  from  above  all  his  servants,  the  Trus- 
tees of  this  Seminary;  and  with  spiritual  understanding  the 
Professors  therein  ;  that,  being  illuminated  by  the  Holy  Spirit, 
their  doctrine  may  drop,  as  the  rain,  and  their  speech  distil,  as 
the  dew  ;  and  that  their  Pupils  may  become  trees  of  renown  in 
the  courts  of  our  God,  whereby  He  may  be  glorified. 

In  witness  whereof  we,  the  Subscribers,  have  hereunto  set  our 
hands  and  seals  this  thirty-first  day  of  August  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seven. 

Signed,  scaled,  and  dc  PHCEBE    PHILLIPS,  (S.) 

Hvf.red  in  prr.sniCR  of 

fo"™  p'r,"''  JOHN  PHILLIPS,  Jan.    (S.) 

AmosB.«ch.h,>.  SAMUEL  abbot.         (S.) 


17 


ADDITIONAL  STATUTES. 


We,  the  Subscribers,  having  made  some  provision  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  Theological  Institution  in  connexion  with 
Phillips  Academy,  by  covenanting  to  erect  certain  Buildings 
therefor,  and  by  laying  a  Foundation  for  a  Professorship  of  Chris- 
tian Theology  therein  ;  and  having  given  a  Constitution,  con- 
taining Principles  and  Regulations  for  the  management  of  the 
said  Institution,  which  has  been  accepted  by  the  Trustees 
of  said  Academy  ;  in  which  we  *'  reserved  to  ourselves,  during 
our  natural  lives,  the  right  jointly  to  make  any  additional  Regula- 
tions, or  to  alter  any  Rule,  therein  prescribed,  provided  such 
Regulation,  or  alteration,  be  not  prejudicial  to  the  true  design  of 
said  Foundation." — We  do  now,  agreeably  to  the  said  reserved 
right,  and  in  furtherance,  as  we  trust,  of  our  original  design, 
therein  expressed,  make  and  ordain  the  following  Articles,  to  be 
added  to,  and  taken,  as  a  part  of  our  said  Constitution  ;  Provi- 
ded the  said  Trustees  shall  accept  the  Statutes  and  Founda- 
tion of  the  Associate  Founders,  so  called,  viz.  of  Moses 
Brown  and  William  Bartlet  Esquires  of  Newburyport,  and 
the  Honorable  John  Norris  Esquire  of  Salem,  which  are  now 
executed,  and  to  be  laid  before  the  said  Trustees,  at  their  ap- 
proaching meeting,  for  their  acceptance  ;  and  to  continue  of  full 
force,  as  a  part  of  our  said  Constitution,  so  long,  as  the  said  As- 
sociate Foundation  shall  continue  attached  to  our  said  Institu- 
tion, and  no  longer. 

Art.  I.  Having  provided  in  the  twelfth  Article  of  our  said 
Constitution,  that  "  every  person,  appointed  or  elected  a  Profes- 
sor in  the  said  Seminary,  shall  on  the  day  of  his  inauguration  in- 
to office  publicly  make  and  subscribe  a  Declaration  of  his  faith  in 
Divine  Revelation,  and  in  the  fundamental  and  distinguishing 

3 


18 

doctrines  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  as  summarily  expressed  in  the 
Westniinster  Assembly's  Shorter  Catechism  ;"  We  now  ordain 
the  following  addition,  to  be  inserted  in  said  Article,  in  connex- 
ion with  the  said  clause,  viz.  '  and  as  more  particularly  express- 
ed in  the  following  Creed,  to  wit, 

'  1  believe  that  there  is  one  and  but  one  living  and  true  God  ; 
that  the  word  of  God,  contained  in  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and 
New   Testament,  is   the  only  perfect  rule  of  faith  and   practice ; 
that  agreeably  to  those  Scriptures  God  is  a  Spirit  infinite,  eternal, 
and  unchangeable  in  his  being,  wisdom,  power,  holiness,  justice, 
goodness,  and   truth  ;  that  in   the   Godhead   are  three  Persons, 
the  Father,  tlie   Son,  and  the   Holy  Ghost;  and   that  these 
Three   are  One  GOD,  the  same  in  substance,  equal  in  power 
and  glory  ;  that    God    created    man,   after   his  own   image,   in 
knowledge,  righteousness,  and   holiness ;  that  the  glory  of  God 
is  man's  chief  end,  and  the  enjoyment  of  God  his  supreme  hap- 
piness ;  that  this  enjoyment  is  derived  solely  from   conformity  of 
heart  to  the  moral  character   and  will  of  God  ;  that  Adam,  the 
federal   head  and  representative  of  the  human   race,   was   pla- 
ced in  a  state  of  probation,  and  that,  in  consequence  of  his  diso- 
bedience, all   his  descendants  were  constituted  sinners;  that  by 
nature   every  man  is  personally  depraved,   destitute  of  holiness, 
unlike  and  opposed  to  God  ;  and  that,  previously  to  the  renew- 
ing agency  of  the  Divine  Spirit,  all  his  moral  actions  are  ad- 
verse to  the  character  and  glory  of  God  ;  that,  being  morally  in- 
capable of  recovering  the  image  of  his  Creator,  which  was  lost 
in  Adam,  every  man  is  justly  exposed  to  eternal  damnation  ;  so 
that,  except  a  man  be  born  again,   he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of 
God  ;  that  God,  of  his  mere  good   pleasure,   from   all  eternity 
elected  some  to  everlasting  life,  and  that  he  entered  Into  a  cove- 
nant of  grace,  to  deliver  them  out  of  this  slate  of  sin  and  misery 
by  a  Redeemer  ;  that  the  only  Redeemer  of  the   elect  is  the 
eternal  Son  of  God,  who  for  this  purpose  bccan)e  man,  and  con- 
tinues to  be  God  and  man  in  two  distinct  natures  and  one  person 
forever ;  that  Christ,  as  our  Redeemer,  executeth  tlie  oflice  of 
a  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King  ;  that,  agreeably  to  the  covenant  of 
redemption,  the  Son  of  God,  and  he  alone,  by  his  sufferings  and 


19 

death,  has  made  atonement  for  the  sins  of  ail  men  ;  that  repen- 
tance, faith,  and  holiness  are  the  personal  requisites  in  the  Gos- 
pel scheme  of  salvation  ;  that  the  righteousness  of  Christ  is  the 
only  ground  of  a  sinner's  justification  ;  that  this  righteousness  is 
received  through  faith  ;  and  that  tliis  faith  is  the  gift  of  God  ;  so 
that  our  salvation  is  wiiolly  of  grace  ;  that  no  means  whatever  can 
change  the  heart  of  a  sinner,  and  make  it  holy  ;  that  regenera- 
tion and  sanctification  are  effects  of  the  creating  and  renewing 
agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  that  supreme  love  to  God  con- 
stitutes the  essential  difference  between  saints  and  sinners  ;  that 
by  convincing  us  of  our  sin  and  misery,  enlightening  our  minds, 
working  faith  in  us,  and  renewing  our  wills,  the  Holy  Spirit 
makes  us  partakers  of  the  benefits  of  redemption  ;  and  that  the 
ordinary  means,  by  which  these  benefits  are  communicated  to  us, 
are  the  word,  sacraments,  and  prayer ;  that  repentance  unto  life, 
faith  to  feed  upon  Christ,  love  to  God,  and  new  obedience,  are 
the  appropriate  qualifications  for  the  Lord's  Supper;  and  that  a 
Christian  Church  ought  to  admit  no  person  to  its  holy  commu- 
nion, before  he  exhibit  credible  evidence  of  his  godly  sincerity  ; 
that  perseverance  in  holiness  is  the  only  method  of  making  our 
calling  and  election  sure ;  and  that  the  final  perseverance  of 
saints,  though  it  is  the  effect  of  the  special  open  operation  of  God 
on  their  hearts,  yet  necessarily  implies  their  own  watcliful  dili- 
gence ;  that  they,  who  are  effectually  called,  do  in  this  life  par- 
take of  justification,  adoption,  and  sanctification,  and  the  several 
benefits,  which  do  either  accompany  or  flow  from  them  ;  that  the 
souls  of  believers  are  at  their  death  made  perfect  in  holiness,  and  do 
immediately  pass  into  glory  ;  that  their  bodies,  being  still  united 
to  Christ,  will  at  the  resurrection  be  raised  up  to  glory,  and  that 
the  saints  will  be  made  perfectly  blessed  in  the  full  enjoyment  of 
God  to  all  eternity  ;  but  that  the  wicked  will  awake  to  shame 
and  everlasting  contempt,  and  with  devils  be  plunged  into  the  lake, 
that  burneth  with  fire  and  brimstone  forever  and  ever.  I  moreo- 
ver believe  that  God,  according  to  the  counsel  of  his  own  will, 
and  for  his  own  glory,  hath  foreordained  whatsoever  comes  to 
pass,  and  that  all  beings,  actions,  and  events,  both  in  the  natural 
and  moral  world,  are  under  his  providential  direction  ;  that  God's 


20 

decrees  perfectly  consist  with  human  liberty  ;  God's  universal 
agency  with  the  agency  of  man  ;  and  man's  dependence  with  his 
accountability  ;  that  man  has  understanding  and  corporeal  strength 
to  do  all,  that  God  requires  of  him  ;  so  that  nothing,  but  the  sin- 
ner's aversion  to  holiness,  prevents  his  salvation  ;  that  it  is  the 
prerogative  of  God,  to  bring  good  out  of  evil,  and  that  he  will 
cause  the  wrath  and  rage  of  wicked  men  and  devils  to  praise  Him  ; 
and  that  all  the  evil,  which  has  existed,  and  will  forever  exist  in 
the  moral  system,  will  eventually  be  made  to  promote  a  most  im- 
portant purpose  under  the  wise  and  perfect  administration  of  that 
ALMiGiixy  Being,  who  will  cause  all  things  to  work  for  his  own 
glory,  and  thus  fulfil  all  his  pleasure.' 

Art.  II.  That  the  trust  aforesaid  may  be  always  executed 
agreeably  to  the  true  intent  of  our  said  Foundation  ;  and  that 
we  may  effectually  guard  the  same,  in  all  future  time,  against 
all  perversion,  or  the  smallest  avoidance  of  our  true  design,  as 
therein  expressed  ; — We  do  hereby  constitute  a  Board  of  Vis- 
itors, to  be,  as  in  our  place  and  stead,  the  Guardians,  Over- 
seers, and  Protectors  of  our  said  Foundation,  in  manner,  as  is 
expressed  in  the  following  provisions;  that  is  to  say,  we  appoint 
and  constitute  the  Honorable  Caleb  Strong  Esquire,  late 
Governor  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  the  Rever- 
end Timothy  Dwight  D.  D.  President  of  Yale  College,  and 
the  Reverend  Samuel  Spring  D.  D.  of  Newburyport,  Visi- 
tors of  the  said  Foundation  ;  who  with  their  Successors  in 
office,  to  be  chosen,  as  herein  after  directed,  shall  be  a  perpetual 
body  for  this  purpose,  with  all  tiie  powers  and  duties,  in  them 
herein  vested,  and  on  them  enjoined  ;  but  we  do  nevertheless 
reserve  to  Samuel  Abbot,  one  of  the  Subscribers,  the  right  of 
visiting,  in  connexion  with  the  said  Board,  and  during  his  natu- 
ral life,  the  said  Foundation  ;  and  we  do  moreover  confer  on 
INIosF-s  Brown  and  William  Bartlrt  Esquires  of  Newbury- 
port, and  the  Honorable  John  Norris  Esquire  of  Salem,  the 
Associate  Foundkrs,  above  named,  the  right  of  visiting  the 
said  Foundation  in  the  same  manner  with  the  said  Samuel  Ab- 
bot, during  their  natural  lives  respectively  ;  each  of  the  said 
four  Founders,  so  long,  as  he  shall  retain  his  seal  at  the  Board, 


21 

shall  possess  and  exercise  all  the  rights  and  powers,  herein  given 
to  a  Visitor  of  the  said  Foundation  ;  though  upon  the  resigna- 
tion or  demise  of  either  of  the  said  Founders,  his  place  shall 
not  be  supplied  by  election  of  a  Visitor,  to  succeed  him  ;  and, 
after  the  demise  or  resignation  of  the  said  four  persons,  last  above 
named,  as  Founders,  the  said  Board  shall  never  consist  of  more 
than  three  members ;  and  it  is  farther  expressly  provided,  that 
the  perpetual  Board  of  Visitors,  first  herein  named,  shall  con- 
sist of  two  Clergymen  and  one  Layman,  all  of  whom  shall  be 
men  of  distinguished  talents  and  piety. 

Art.  III.  We  do  farther  provide  and  ordain,  that  no  per- 
son shall  be  eligible,  as  a  Visitor,  under  the  age  of  forty 
years  ;  nor  shall  any  person,  except  the  seven,  herein  just  na- 
med, hold  the  office  of  Visitor  after  the  age  of  seventy  years ; 
and  whenever,  with  the  exception  aforesaid,  any  Visitor  shall 
have  completed  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  the  Board  shall, 
within  the  year  next  ensuing,  choose  some  suitable  person,  to 
succeed  him  ;  but  the  Visitor  elect  shall  not  take  his  seat  at 
the  Board,  before  his  said  Predecessor  shall  have  completed  his 
seventieth  year,  or  formally  resigned  his  office  of  Visitor  ;  and 
no  resignation  of  any  member  at  an  earlier  age  shall  be  accepted 
by  this  Board,  before  a  Successor  shall  have  been  chosen. 

Art.  IV.  The  Board  of  Visitors  shall  meet  on  the  seven- 
teenth day  of  May  current  at  Andover,  and  ever  after  once  in 
every  year  at  the  aforesaid  Theological  Institution,  to  ex- 
ecute the  business  of  their  appointment,  on  such  day,  as  they 
shall  assign  ;  also  upon  emergencies,  when  called  thereto,  as 
herein  after  directed  ;  and  a  majority  of  the  Visitors,  when 
regularly  convened,  shall  be  a  Quorum,  of  which  Quorum  a  ma- 
jor part  shall  have  power  to  transact  the  business  of  their  com- 
mission ;  and,  in  case  of  an  equivote,  the  question  shall  deter- 
mine on  that  side,  on  which  the  presiding  member  shall  have 
voted. 

Art.  V.  There  shall  be  annually  chosen  by  ballot  a  Presi- 
dent and  Secretary,  as  Officers  of  the  Board,  out  of  their  own 
number ;  who  shall  continue  in  their  respective  offices,  till  their 
places  be  supplied  by  new  elections  ;  and,  upon  the  decease  of 


32 

eitlior  of  tbem,  anotlier  shall  be  chosen  in    his  room  at  the  next 
mealing. 

Art.  VI.  The  President,  or  in  case  of  his  death,  resigna- 
tion, or  absence  from  the  country,  the  Secretary  shall,  upon  all 
necessary  occasions,  call  s])ecial  meetings  of  the  Board  ;  and 
his  notifications  shall  express  the  business,  to  be  transacted  at 
such  meetings,  and  be  given  as  early,  as  possible  ;  and  in  the  ab- 
sence of  the  President,  at  any  meeting,  the  Secretary  shall  pre- 
side. 

Art.  VII.  The  Secretary  shall  keep  a  fair  record  of  all  the 
transactions  of  the  Visitors  at  every  meeting  of  the  Board,  in- 
serting the  names  of  the  members  present ;  and  in  his  absence 
another  shall  be  appointed  in  his  room. 

Art.  VIII.  The  Visitors  shall  remove  any  member  of  their 
Board  for  immorality,  incapacity,  or  signal  neglect  of  duty. 

Art.  IX.  Upon  the  death,  resignation,  or  removal  of  a  Vis- 
itor, (except  only  upon  the  demise  or  resignation  of  a  Foun- 
der) the  Board  of  Visitors  shall  at  their  next  meeting,  by  bal- 
lot, elect  another  in  his  stead  ;  and  ever  after  from  time  to  time, 
as  a  vacancy  shall  take  place  in  this  Board,  they  shall  supply  it ; 
and  every  person,  so  elected,  previously  to  his  taking  his  seat  at 
the  Board,  shall  make  and  subscribe  the  following  Declaration, 
namely  ;  "  Approving  the  Constitution  of  the  aforesaid  Theolo- 
gical Institution,  I  solemnly  declare  in  the  presence  of  Goi> 
and  of  this  Board,  that  I  will  faithfully  exert  my  abilities  to  carry 
into  execution  the  Regulations,  therein  contained,  and  to  promote 
the  (^reat  object  of  the  Inst'itution  ;" — And  he  shall  moreo- 
ver in  like  manner  subscribe  tiie  same  theological  Creed,  which 
€very  Professor  elect  is  required  to  subscribe  ;  and  a  Declaration 
of  his  fiit!)  in  the  same  Creed  shall  be  repeated  byhim  at  every 
successive  period  of  five  years  ;  and,  if  in  the  course  of  events 
the  number  of  Visitors  shall,  by  any  special  providence  of  God, 
be  reduced  to  one,  the  remaining  Visitor  shall  have  power  to 
appoint  one  suitable  person,  to  be  a  Visitor  of  the  said  Foun- 
dation ;  and  these  two  Visitors  shall  at  their  first  regular  meet- 
ing supply  the  remaining  vacancy  in  the  Board. 

Art.  X.     The  power  and  duties  of  the  Board  of  Visitors, 


23 

thus  constituted  and  organized,  shall  be,  as  follows,  namely,  to 
visit  the  said  Foundation  once  in  every  year,  and  at  other 
times,  when  regularly  called  tljereto  ;  to  inquire  into  the  state 
of  the  said  fund,  and  the  management  of  the  said  Foundation 
with  respect  to  the  said  Professor ;  to  determine,  interpret,  and 
explain  the  Statutes  of  the  said  Foundation  in  all  cases,  brought 
before  them  in  their  judicial  capacity;  to  redress  grievances  with 
respect  to  the  said  Professor  ;  to  hear  appeals  from  decisions  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  to  remedy  upon  complaint,  duly 
exhibited  in  behalf  of  the  said  Professor  ;  to  review  and  reverse 
any  censure,  passed  by  said  Trustees  upon  any  Professor  on 
said  Foundation  ;  to  declare  void  all  Rules  and  Regulations,  made 
by  the  said  Trustees,  relative  to  said  Foundation,  which  may 
be  inconsistent  with  the  original  Statutes  thereof;  to  take  care, 
that  the  duties  of  each  Professor  on  said  Foundation  be  intelli- 
gibly and  faithfully  discharged,  and  to  admonish  or  remove  him, 
either  for  misbehaviour,  heterodoxy,  incapacity,  or  neglect  of  the 
duties  of  his  office  ;  and  in  general  to  see  that  our  true  intentions, 
as  expressed  in  our  said  Constitution,  in  relation  to  said  Professor, 
be  faithfully  executed  ;  always  administering  justice  impartially, 
and  exercising  the  functions  of  their  office  in  the  fear  of  God,  ac« 
cording  to  these  Regulations,  the  Provisions  of  the  said  Constitu- 
tion, and  the  Laws  of  the  land. 

Art.  XI.  Every  election  of  a  Professor  on  said  Foundation 
shall  within  ten  days  be  presented  to  the  Visitors  ;  who  are 
hereby  vested  with  the  power  and  right  of  approving  or  nega- 
tiving, at  a  regular  meeting,  every  such  election.  But  if  any  such 
election  be  not  either  approved  or  negatived  by  the  said  Visitors 
within  twelve  months  from  commencement  of  a  vacancy  in  said 
Professorship  ;  such  election  shall  be  considered,  as  approved  by 
the  Visitors,  and  shall  accordingly  be  deemed  constitutional  and 
valid  ;  provided  always,  that  such  election  shall  have  been  regu- 
larly communicated  to  the  President  or  Secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Visitors  ten  days  at  least  previously  to  the  expiration  of  the 
twelve  months  aforesaid. 

Art.  XII.  The  Board  of  Visitors  in  all  their  proceedings 
are  to  be  subject  to  our  Statutes,  herein  expressed,  and  to  those, 


24 

contained  in  our  said  Constitution,  and  to  conform  their  measures 
accordingly  ;  and,  if  they  shall  at  any  time  act  contrary  thereto, 
or  exceed  the  limits  of  their  jurisdiction  and  constitutional  power, 
the  party  aggrieved  may  have  recourse  by  appeal  to  the  Justi- 
ces of  the  Supreme  Judicial  CoI'Rt  of  this  Commonwealth, 
for  the  time  being,  for  remedy;  who  are  hereby  appointed  and 
authorized  to  judge  in  such  case ;  and,  agreeably  to  the  determi- 
nation of  the  major  part  of  them,  to  declare  null  and  void  any  de- 
cree or  sentence  of  the  said  Visitors,  which  upon  mature  con- 
sideration they  may  deem  contrary  to  the  said  Statutes,  or  be- 
yond the  just  limits  of  their  power,  herein  prescribed  ;  and  by 
the  said  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  for  the 
time  being,  shall  the  said  Board  of  Visitors  at  all  times  be  sub- 
ject to  be  restrained  and  corrected  in  the  undue  exercise  of  their 
office. 

Art.  XIII.  At  all  meetings  of  the  Visitors  decent  enter- 
tainment shall  he  made  by  direction  of  the  Board,  and  at  the 
expense  of  the  Foundation. 

Finally.  Commending  the  said  Institution,  and  all  con- 
cerned in  the  management  thereof,  to  the  blessing  of  Heaven  ; 
and  in  witness  of  what  is  contained  in  this  and  the  seven  preced- 
ing pages,  we  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals,  this  third  day  of 
May  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
eight. 

Signed,  sealed,  and  deliv-  SAMUEL    ABBOT,  (S.) 

ered  in  presence  of  us, 

Amos  b'™bi,.  PH(EBE  PHILLIPS,       (S.) 

JOHN  PHILLIPS,  Jun.    (S.) 


25 


THE  STATUTES 


ASSOCIATE    FOUNDATION 


THEOLOGICAL    INSTITUTION 


IN  ANDOVER. 


Seriously  reflecting  upon  the  fatal  effects  of  the  apostasy  of 
man  without  a  Savior,  on  the  merciful  object  of  the  Son  of  God 
in  assuming  our  nature  and  dying  for  our  salvation,  and  upon  the 
wisdom  of  his  appointment  of  an  order  of  men,  to  preach  his 
Gospel  in  the  world  ;  considering  also  that,  notwithstanding  this 
appointment,  by  far  the  greatest  part  of  the  human  race  is  still 
perishing  for  lack  of  vision  ;  and  that  even  in  countries,  where 
the  Gospel  is  enjoyed,  infidelity,  error,  and  immorality  greatly 
abound  ;  feeling  it  to  be  our  duty,  to  conspire  with  the  benevo- 
lent design  of  this  appointment ;  and  being  desirous  of  contribut- 
ing according  to  our  ability  toward  its  success,  and  of  expressing 
in  this  imperfect  manner  our  sense  of  obligation  to  our  compas- 
sionate Redeemer;  We,  Moses  Brown  and  William  Bart- 
let,  both  of  Newburyport,  Merchants,  and  John  Norris  of  Sa- 
lem Esquire,  all  of  the  County  of  Essex  and  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts,  being  influenced,  as  we  hope,  by  a  principle  of 
gratitude  to  God  and  benevolence  to  man,  have  determined  to 
devote  a  part  of  the  substance,  with  which  Heaven  has  blessed 
us,  to  the  defence  and  promotion  of  the  Christian  Religion,  by 
making  some  provision  for  increasing  the  number  of  learned  and 

4 


26 

able  Defenders  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  as  well  as  of  orthodox, 
pious,  and  zealous  Ministers  of  the  New  Testament  ;  and  we  do 
accordingly  hereby  give,  assign,  and  set  over  to  tiie  Trustees  of 
Phillips    Academy,  and  to  their   Successors  in   office,  the  sum 
of  ten  thousand  dollars  each,  amounting  to  thirty  thousand   dol- 
lars ;  to   which  sum,  I,  William  Bartlet,  add  the  farther  sum 
often  thousand  dollars,*  for  the  purpose  of  supporting  one  of  the 
two  Professors,  herein  after  named,  (the  whole  amounting  to  forty 
thousand  dollars,)  in  Sacred  Trust,  as  a  capital  Fund,  to  be  dispo- 
sed of  in  the  manner  and  for  the  purposes  following  ;  that  is  to  say, 
the  said  sum  of  money  to  he  kept  out  at  interest  on   good  secu- 
rity, or  otherwise  in  whole  or  in  part   vested,  as  the  said  Trus- 
tees shall    deem  best,  in   productive   real  estate,  or  in  sure  and 
permanent  Funds  ;  and  tiie  interest  or  annual  income  of  said  cap- 
ital Fund   to  be  applied  to  the  maintenance   of  two  Professors    in 
the  Theological  Institution  or  Seminary,  laielv  founded  in 
the  Town  of  Andover,  and  County  aforesaid  ;  who  shall,  agree- 
ably to  the  permanent  Creed,  herein  after  mentioned,  faithfully 
leach  that   revealed   Holy  Religion  only,  which   God  constantly 
teaches  man  by  his  glorious  works  of  Creation,  Providence,  and 
Redemption  ;  whose  professional  duties  shall  be  assigned,  accord- 
ing to  the  Constitution  of  the  Seminary,  in  such  manner,  as  shall 
most  directly  and  effectually  promote  the  great  object  of  the  In- 
stitution ;  reserving  to  ourselves  the  right,  jointly  to  make  the 
first   appointment  of  one  of  the  said   professors,  and  to  the  said 
William  Bartlet  severally  the  right,  to  make  the  first  appoint- 
ment of  the   other   of  the  said  professors  ;  and   also  toward  the 
maintenance  of  such    Students    in    Divinity,  as  may  be  proper 
Candidates  for  gratuitous  support,  and  sliail   be   approved  and 
recommended  by  the  Board  of  Visitors,  herein  after  constituted, 
or  by  a  committee  of  their  appointment,  agreeably  to  the  follow- 
ing Statutes,  namely. 

Art.  I.  The  Fund  aforesaid  shall  be  kej)!  distinct  from  all 
other  property,  to  the  same  Trustees  belonginir,  being  never 
blended  therewith  by  loan  or  purchase  ;  and  their  Treasurer  shall 

*  To  this  sum  an  addition  often  thousand  dollars  was  made  by  the  Founder 
Boon  after  the  execution  of  these  Statutes. 


27 

accordingly  keep  all  accounts,  relative  thereto,  in  distinct  books ; 
and  all  monies,  evidences  of  property,  receipts,  papers,  and  books 
of  account,  appertaining  to  said  Fund,  in  a  trunk,  or  chest,  pre- 
pared for  prompt  removal. 

Art.  II.  Every  Professor  on  the  Associate  Foundation 
shall  be  a  Master  of  Arts,  of  the  Protestant  Reformed  Religion, 
an  ordained  Minister  of  the  Congregational  or  Presbyterian  de- 
nomination, and  shall  sustain  the  character  of  a  discreet,  honest, 
learned,  and  devout  Christian  ;  an  orthodox  and  consistent  Cal- 
vinist ;  and  after  a  careful  examination  by  the  Visitoks  with  re- 
ference to  his  religious  principles,  he  shall,  on  the  day  of  his  in- 
auguration, publicly  make  and  subscribe  a  solemn  Declaration 
-  of  his  faith  in  Divine  Revelation,  and  in  the  fundamental  and  dis- 
tinguishing doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  as  expressed  in  the  following 
Creed  ;  which  is  supported  by  the  infallible  Revelation,  which 
God  constantly  makes  of  Himself  in  his  works  of  creation,  prov- 
idence, and  redemption  ;  namely, 

'  I  believe  that  there  is  one,  and  but  one  living  and  true  God  ; 
that  the  word  of  God,  contained  in  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testament,  is  the  only  perfect  rule  of  faith  and  practice ; 
that  agreeably  to  these  Scriptures  God  is  a  Spirit,  infinite,  eternal; 
and  unchangeable  in  his  being,  wisdom,  power,  holiness,  justice, 
goodness,  and  truth  ;  that  in  the  Godhead  are  three  Persons, 
the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  ;  and  that  these 
Three  are  One  GOD,  the  same  in  substance,  equal  in  power 
and  glory  ;  that  God  created  man,  after  his  own  image,,  in 
knowledge,  righteousness,  and  holiness ;  that  the  glory  of  God 
is  man's  chief  end,  and  the  enjoyment  of  God  his  supreme  hap- 
piness ;  that  this  enjoyment  is  derived  solely  from  conformity  of 
heart  to  the  moral  character  and  will  of  God  ;  that  Adam,  the 
federal  head  and  representative  of  the  human  race,  was  pla- 
ced in  a  state  of  probation,  and  that,  in  consequence  of  his  diso- 
bedience, all  his  descendants  were  constituted  sinners ;  that  by 
nature  every  man  is  personally  depraved,  destitute  of  holiness, 
unlike  and  opposed  to  God  ;  and  that,  previously  to  the  renew- 
ing agency  of  the  Divine  Spirit,  all  his  moral  actions  are  ad- 
verse to  the  character  and  glory  of  God  ;  that,  being  morally  in- 


28 

capable  of  recovering  the  image  of  his  Creator,  which  was  lost 
in  Adam,  every  man  is  justly  exposed  to  eternal  damnation  ;  so 
that,  except  a  man  be  born  again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of 
God  ;  that  God,  of  his  mere  good  pleasure,  from  all  eternity 
elected  some  to  everlasting  life,  and  that  he  entered  into  a  cove- 
nant of  grace,  to  deliver  them  out  of  this  state  of  sin  and  misery 
by  a  Redeemer  ;  that  the  only  Redeemer  of  the  elect  is  the 
eternal  Son  of  God,  who  for  this  purpose  became  man,  and  con- 
tinues to  be  God  and  man  in  two  distinct  natures  and  one  person 
forever ;  that  Christ,  as  our  Redeemer,  executeth  the  office  of 
a  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King  ;  that,  agreeably  to  the  covenant  of 
redemption,  the  Son  of  God,  and  he  alone,  by  his  sufferings  and 
deatl),  has  made  atonement  for  the  sins  of  all  men  ;  that  repen- 
tance, faith,  and  holiness  are  the  personal  requisites  in  the  Gos- 
pel scheme  of  salvation  ;  that  the  righteousness  of  Christ  is  the 
only  ground  of  a  sinner's  justification  ;  that  this  righteousness  is 
received  through  faith  ;  and  that  this  faith  is  the  gift  of  God  ;  so 
that  our  salvation  is  wholly  of  grace  ;  tl)at  no  n)eans  whatever  can 
change  the  heart  of  a  sinner,  and  make  it  holy  ;  that  regenera- 
tion and  sanctification  are  effects  of  the  creating  and  renewing 
agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  that  supreme  love  to  God  con- 
stitutes tlie  essential  difference  between  saints  and  sinners  ;  that 
by  convincing  us  of  our  sin  and  misery,  enlightening  our  minds, 
working  faith  in  us,  and  renewing  our  wills,  the  Holy  Spirit 
makes  us  partakers  of  the  benefits  of  redemption  ;  and  that  the 
ordinary  means,  by  which  these  benefits  are  communicated  to  us, 
are  the  word,  sacraments,  and  prayer ;  tiiat  repentance  unto  life, 
faith  to  feed  upon  Christ,  love  to  God,  and  new  obedience,  are 
the  appropriate  qualifications  for  the  Lord's  Supper  ;  and  that  a 
Christian  Church  ought  to  admit  no  person  to  its  holy  commu- 
nion, before  he  exhibit  credible  evidence  of  his  godly  sincerity  ; 
that  perseverance  in  holiness  is  the  only  method  of  making  our 
calling  and  election  sure ;  and  that  the  final  perseverance  of 
saints,  though  it  is  the  effect  of  the  special  operation  of  God 
on  their  hearts,  yet  necessarily  implies  thc^ir  own  watchful  dili- 
gence ;  that  they,  who  are  effectually  called,  do  in  this  life  par- 
take of  justification,  adoption,  and  sanctification,  and  the  several 


29 

benefits,  which  do  either  accompany  or  flow  from  them  ;  that  the 
souls  of  believers  are  at  their  death  made  perfect  in  holiness,  and  do 
immediately  pass  into  glory  ;  that  their  bodies,  being  still  united 
to  Christ,  will  at  the  resurrection  be  raised  up  to  glory,  and  that 
the  saints  will  be  made  perfectly  blessed  in  the  full  enjoyment  of 
God  to  all  eternity  ;  but  that  the  wicked  will  awake  to  shame 
and  everlasting  contempt,  and  with  devils  be  plunged  into  the  lake, 
that  burneth  with  fire  and  brimstone  forever  and  ever.  I  moreo- 
ver believe  that  God,  according  to  the  counsel  of  his  own  will, 
and  for  his  own  glory,  hat!)  foreordained  whatsoever  comes  to 
pass,  and  that  all  beings,  actions,  and  events,  both  in  the  natural 
and  moral  world,  are  under  his  providential  direction  ;  that  God's 
decrees  perfectly  consist  with  human  liberty  ;  God's  universal 
agency  with  the  agency  of  man  ;  and  man's  dependence  with  his 
accountability  ;  that  man  has  understanding  and  corporeal  strength 
to  do  all,  that  God  requires  of  him  ;  so  that  nothing,  but  the  sin- 
ner's aversion  to  holiness,  prevents  his  salvation  ;  that  it  is  the 
prerogative  of  God,  to  bring  good  out  of  evil,  and  that  he  will 
cause  the  wrath  and  rage  of  wicked  men  and  devils  to  praise  Him  ; 
and  that  all  the  evil,  which  has  existed,  and  will  forever  exist  in 
the  moral  system,  will  eventually  be  made  to  promote  a  most  im- 
portant purpose  under  the  wise  and  perfect  administration  of  that 
Almighty  Being,  who  will  cause  all  things  to  work  for  his  own 
glory,  and  thus  fulfil  all  his  pleasure. — And  furthermore  I  do  so- 
lemnly promise  that  1  will  open  and  explain  the  Scriptures  to  my 
Pupils  with  integrity  and  faithfulness  ;  that  1  will  maintain  and 
inculcate  the  Christian  faith,  as  expressed  in  the  Creed,  by  me 
now  repeated,  together  with  all  the  other  doctrines  and  duties  of 
our  holy  Religion,  so  far,  as  may  appertain  to  my  office,  accord- 
ing to  the  best  light,  God  shall  give  me,  and  in  opposition,  not 
only  to  Atheists  and  Infidels,  but  to  Jews,  Papists,  Mohammedans, 
Arians,  Pelagians,  Antinomians,  Arminians,  Socinians,  Sabellians, 
Unitarians,  and  Universalists  ;  and  to  all  heresies  and  errors,  an- 
cient or  modern,  which  may  be  opposed  to  the  Gospel  of  Christ, 
or  hazardous  to  the  souls  of  men  ;  that  by  my  instruction,  coun- 
sel, and  example,  1  will  endeavour  to  promote  true  Piety  and 
Godliness  ;  that  I  will  consult  the  good  of  this  Institution,  and 


30 

the  peace  of  the  Churches  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  on  all  occa- 
sions ;  and  that  I  will  religiously  conform  to  the  Constitution  and 
Laws  of  this  Seminary,,  and  to  the  statutes  of  tiiis  Foundation. 

Art.  in.  The  preceding  Creed  and  Declaration  shall  be 
repeated  by  every  Professor  on  this  Foundation  at  the  expiration 
of  every  successive  period  of  five  years  ;  and  no  man  shall  be 
continued  a  Professor  on  said  Foundation,  who  shall  not  continue 
to  approve  himself  a  man  of  sound  and  orthodox  principles  in  Di- 
vinity agreeably  to  the  aforesaid  Creed. 

Art.  IV.  Professors  on  this  Foundation  shall  be  allowed  an 
honorable  maintenance,  regulated,  as  circumstances  may  require, 
by  the  current  prices  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  agreeably  to  ori- 
ginal contract. 

Art.  V.  It  is  required,  that  every  public  Lecture  be  preced- 
ed and  followed  by  prayer  ;  that  the  Associate  Professors  in  their 
preaching  to  the  Students  of  the  Institution  on  the  Lord's  Day 
be  devout,  practical,  doctrinal,  and  pungent,  rather  than  specula- 
tive and  metaphysical ;  and  no  Professor  on  this  Foundation  shall 
ever  preach  for  hire,  or  take  the  pastoral  charge  of  any  church  or 
congiegation.  And  it  is  furthermore  expected,  that  the  Profes- 
sors on  this  Foundation  shall  faithfully  devote  their  time  and  talents, 
to  qualify  their  Pupils  for  able  ministers  of  the  Gospel.  Beside, 
therefore,  guiding  them  in  the  peaceful  ways  of  wisdom  and  dis- 
cretion by  Christian  precept  and  example,  directing  the  course  of 
their  reading  the  Scriptures  and  other  instructive  books,  critically 
inspecting  and  correcting  iheir  theological  compositions,  and  teach- 
ing them  the  appropriate  style  and  manner  of  pulpit  address,  it  is 
confidently  expected,  that  the  Professors  confer  with  them  free- 
ly and  frequently  on  those  subjects,  which  are  calculated  to  ex- 
pand and  enrich  the  minds  and  hearts  of  the  theological  Students, 
and  prepare  them  for  the  work  of  the  Ministry. 

Art.  VI.  Upon  the  death,  resignation,  or  removal  of  a  Pro- 
fessor on  this  Foundation,  a  Successor  shall  be  chosen  by  the 
Trustees  aforesaid  within  six  months,  and  the  choice  presented 
to  the  Visitors  for  their  approbation.  But,  if  this  choice  be 
negatived,  another  election  shall  in  like  inanner  be  presented,  and 
toties  quotks,  till  an  election  be  made,  which  shall  be  approved 


31 

by  the  Visitors  ;  and  this  within  twelve  months  from  the  com- 
mencement of  a  vacancy  in  either  of  the  said  Professorships. 

Art.  VII.  All  Applicants  for  the  advantages  of  this  Foun- 
dation shall  be  introduced  by  letters  of  recommendation  from  de- 
vout and  influential  characters,  and  shall  exhibit  satisfactory  evi- 
dence of  their  distinguished  abilities  and  gracious  sincerity  ;  and  by 
an  examination  in  the  learned  languages  shall  evince  that  in  these 
respects  they  are  qualified  to  enter  upon  theological  studies. 

Art.  VIII.  Every  Applicant,  after  examination  by  the  stand- 
ing Committee,  to  be  appointed,  as  herein  after  provided,  and 
after  reading  the  Constitution  of  the  Seminary  and  the  Statutes 
of  the  Associate  Founders,  shall  make  and  subscribe  the  fol- 
lowing Declaration,  viz,  '  Deeply  impressed  with  the  importance 
of  an  extensive  fund  of  knowledge  and  prudence  to  the  min- 
isterial character,  and  of  being  correctly  instructed  in  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Gospel,  and  consequently  of  attending  a  regular  course 
of  theological  education,  I  solemnly  promise,  by  the  aid  of  Divine 
grace,  to  improve  in  a  faithful  and  Christian  manner  the  advan- 
tages, furnished  by  this  Institution;  to  be  uniformly  subject  to 
the  authority  and  laws  of  the  same,  with  a  single  view  to  my  being 
qualified  for  the  Gospel  Ministry.' 

Art.  IX.  Strict  and  devout  attention  to  the  Sabbath  and  all 
stated  solemnities  is  required  of  the  Associate  Students  ;  and  every 
neglect  of  the  means  of  grace  or  religious  improvement  wilf  be 
duly  noticed  by  the  Professors. 

Art.  X.  It  is  strictly  enjoined  upon  the  Associate  Students, 
to  treat  the  Professors,  Trustees,  and  Visitors  with  due  re- 
spect ;  and  each  other  and  all  persons  with  friendship  and  deco- 
rum ;  any  failure  in  these  and  similar  instances  will  be  deemed 
censurable ;  and,  if  persisted  in,  a  forfeiture  of  the  privileges  of 
the  Institution. 

Art.  XI.  Tuition  and  room  shall  be  gratis  to  all  approved 
Applicants  and  Students  on  this  Foundation  ;  and  other  gratui- 
tous aid,  such  as  diet,  fuel,  light,  washing,  and  lodging,  shall  be 
granted,  in  whole  or  in  part,  according  to  the  direction  of  the  Visi- 
tors, and  as  the  state  of  the  said  Funds  may  permit  ;  and  no 
Student  in  the  Seminary  may  ever  be  charged  for  the  Instruc- 
tion of  any  Professor  on  our  Foundation. 


32 

Art.  XII.  That  the  Trust  aforesaid  may  be  always  exe- 
cuted agreeably  to  the  true  intent  of  this  our  Foundation  ;  and 
that  we  may  effectually  guard  the  same  in  all  future  time  against 
all  perversion,  or  the  smallest  avoidance  of  our  true  design,  as, 
herein  expressed  ;  We,  the  aforesaid  Founders,  do  hereby  con- 
stitute a  Board  of  Visitors,  to  be  as  in  our  place  and  stead  the 
Guardians,  Overseers,  and  Protectors  of  this  our  Foundation 
in  manner,  as  is  expressed  in  the  following  Provisions,  that  is  to 
say,  We  appoint  and  constitute  the  Honorable  Caleb  Strong 
Esquire,  late  Governor  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, 
the  Rev.  Timothy  Dwight  D.  D.  President  of  Yale  College, 
and  the  Rev.  Samuel  Spring  D.  D.  of  Newburyport  aforesaid, 
Visitors  of  the  said  Foundation  ;  who  with  their  Successors  in 
office,  to  be  chosen  as  herein  after  directed,  shall  be  a  perpetual 
body  for  this  purpose,  with  all  the  powers  and  duties,  in  them 
herein  vested  and  on  them  enjoined  ;  but  we  do  nevertheless  re- 
serve to  ourselves  the  right  of  visiting  in  connection  with  the  said 
Board,  and  during  our  natural  lives  respectively,  this  our  Founda- 
tion. And  we  do  moreover  confer  on  Samuel  Abbot  Esquire,* 
one  of  the  Founders  of  the  Theological  Institution  afore- 
said, the  right  of  visiting  this  our  Foundation  in  the  same  manner 
with  ourselves,  during  his  natural  life  ;  each  of  the  said  four  Foun- 
ders so  long-,  as  he  shall  retain  his  seat  at  the  Board,  shall  possess 
and  exercise  all  the  rights  and  powers,  herein  given  to  a  Visitor 
of  this  Foundation  ;  though  upon  the  resignation  or  demise  of 
either  of  the  said  Founders  his  place  shall  not  be  supplied  by 
election  of  a  Visitor  to  succeed  him  ;  and  after  the  demise  or 
resignation  of  the  said  four  persons,  last  above  named  as  Foun- 
ders, the  said  Board  shall  never  consist  of  more  than  three  mem- 
bers ;  and  it  is  farther  expressly  provided,  that  the  perpetual 
Board  of  Visitors,  first  herein  named,  shall  consist  of  two  Cler- 
gymen and  one  Layman,  all  of  whom  shall  be  men  of  distinguish- 
ed talents  and  piety. 

Art.  XIII.  We  do  farther  provide  and  ordain  that  no  person 
shall  be  clii^ible,  as  a  Visitor,  under  the  age  of  forty  years  ;  nor 
shall  any  person,  except  the  seven  herein  just  named,  hold  the 

*  Who  had  previously  resigned  his  seat  at  the  Board  of  Trustees. 


33 

office  of  Visitor  after  the  age  of  seventy  years  ;  and  whenever, 
with  the  exception  aforesaid,  any  Visitor  shall  have  completed 
the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  the  Board  shall,  within  the  year 
next  ensuing,  choose  some  suitable  person  to  succeed  him  ;  but 
the  Visitor  elect  shall  not  take  his  seat  at  the  Board,  before  his 
said  Predecessor  shall  have  completed  his  seventieth  year,  or  for- 
mally resigned  his  office  of  Visitor  ;  and  no  resignation  of  any 
member  at  an  earlier  age  shall  be  accepted  by  this  Board,  before 
a  Successor  shall  have  been  chosen. 

Art.  XIV.  The  Board  of  Visitors  shall  meet  on  the  sev- 
enteenth day  of  May  next  at  Andover,  and  ever  after,  once  in 
every  year,  at  the  aforesaid  Theological  Institution,  to  exe- 
cute the  business  of  their  appointment,  on  such  day,  as  they  shall 
assign  ;  also  upon  emergencies,  when  called  thereto,  as  herein  after 
directed  ;  and  a  majority  of  the  Visitors,  when  regularly  con- 
vened, shall  be  a  Qiiorum,  of  which  Quorum  a  major  part  shall 
have  power  to  transact  the  business  of  their  Commission  ;  and  in 
case  of  an  equivote,  the  question  shall  determine  on  that  side,  on 
which  the  presiding  member  shall  have  voted. 

Art.  XV.  There  shall  be  annually  chosen,  by  ballot,  a  Presi- 
dent and  Secretary,  as  Officers  of  the  Board,  out  of  their  own 
number ;  who  shall  continue  in  their  respective  offices,  till  their 
places  be  supplied  by  new  elections  ;  and  upon  the  decease  of 
either  of  them,  another  shall  be  chosen  in  his  room  at  the  next 
meeting. 

Art.  XVI.  The  President,  or  in  case  of  his  death,  resignation, 
or  absence  from  the  country,  the  Secretary  shall,  upon  all  neces- 
sary occasions,  call  special  meetings  of  the  Board  ;  and  his  notifi- 
cations shall  express  the  business  to  be  transacted  at  such  meetings, 
and  be  given  as  early  as  possible,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  Presi- 
dent, at  any  meeting,  the  Secretary  shall  preside. 

Art.  XVII.  The  Secretary  shall  keep  a  fair  record  of  all  the 
transactions  of  the  Visitors  at  every  meeting  of  the  Board,  insert- 
ing the  names  of  the  members  present ;  and  in  his  absence  anoth- 
er shall  be  appointed  in  his  room. 

Art.  XVIII.     The   Visitors  shall  remove  any  Member  of 
their  Board  for  immorality,  incapacity,  or  neglect  of  duty. 
5 


34 

Art.  XIX.  Upon  the  death,  resignation,  or  removal  of  a  Visi- 
tor, except  only  upon  the  demise  or  resignation  of  a  Founder, 
the  Board  of  Visitors  shall  at  their  next  meeting,  by  ballot,  elect 
another  in  his  stead  ;  and  ever  after  from  time  to  time,  as  a  vacan- 
cy shall  take  place  in  this  Board,  they  shall  supply  it ;  and  every 
person  so  elected,  previously  to  taking  his  seat  at  the  Board,  shall 
make  and  subscribe  the  following  Declaration,  namely,  '  Ap- 
proving the  Statutes  of  the  aforesaid  Theological  Institution, 
and  those  of  the  Associate  Founders,  I  solemnly  declare,  in 
the  presence  of  God  and  of  this  Board,  that  I  will  faithfully  exert 
my  abilities,  to  carry  into  execution  the  Statutes  of  the  said  Foun- 
ders, and  to  promote  the  great  object  of  the  Institution.'  And 
he  shall  moreover  in  like  manner  subscribe  the  same  theological 
Creed,  which  every  Professor  elect  is  required  to  subscribe  ;  and 
a  Declaration  of  his  faith  in  the  same  Creed  shall  be  repealed  by 
him  at  every  successive  period  of  [ive  years  ;  and,  if  in  the  course 
of  events  the  number  of  Visitors  shall  by  any  special  providence 
of  God  be  reduced  to  one,  the  remaining  Visitor  shall  have 
power  to  appoint  one  suitable  person  to  be  a  Visitor  of  this  Foun- 
dation ;  and  these  two  Visitors  shall  at  their  first  regular  meet- 
ing supply  the  remaining  vacancy  in  the  Board. 

Art.  XX.  The  power  and  duties  of  the  Board  of  Visitors, 
thus  constituted  and  organized,  shall  be  as  follows ;  namely,  to 
visit  the  Foundation  once  in  every  year  ;  and  at  other  times, 
when  regularly  called  thereto;  to  inquire  into  the  state  of  this 
our  Fund,  and  the  management  of  this  Foundation,  with  respect 
both  to  Professors  and  Students  ;  to  determine,  interpret,  and  ex- 
plain the  Statutes  of  this  Foundation  in  all  cases,  brought  before 
them  in  their  judicial  capacity  ;  to  redress  grievances,  both  with 
respect  to  Professors  and  Students ;  to  hear  appeals  from  deci- 
sions of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  to  remedy  upon  complaint, 
duly  exhibited  in  behalf  of  the  said  Professors  or  Students  ;  to 
review  and  reverse  any  censure,  passed  by  said  Trustees  upon 
any  Professor  or  Student  on  this  Foundation  ;  to  declare  void  all 
Rules  and  Regulations,  made  by  the  said  Trustees,  relative  to 
this  Foundation,  which  may  be  inconsistent  with  the  original 
Statutes  thereof ;  to  take  care,  that  the  duties  of  every  Professor 


35 

on  this  Foundation  be  intelligibly  and  faithfully  discharged,  and 
to  admonish  or  remove  him,  either  for  misbehaviour,  heterodoxy, 
incapacity,  or  neglect  of  the  duties  of  his  office  ;  to  examine  into 
the  proficiency  of  the  Students,  and  to  admonish,  suspend,  or  de- 
prive any  Student  for  negligence,  contumacy,  or  any  heinous 
crime,  committed  against  the  laws  of  God  or  the  Statutes  of  this 
Foundation  ;  and  in  general,  to  see  that  our  true  intention,  as 
expressed  in  these  our  Statutes,  be  faithfully  executed  ;  always 
administering  justice  impartially,  and  exercising  the  functions  of 
their  office  in  the  fear  of  Goo,  according  to  the  said  Statutes, 
the  Constitution  of  this  Seminary,  and  the  Laws  of  the  land. 

Art.  XXI.  Every  election  of  a  professor  on  this  Foundation 
shall  within  ten  days  be  presented  to  the  Visitors  ;  who  are 
hereby  vested  with  the  power  and  right  of  approving  or  negativ- 
ing, at  a  regular  meeting,  every  such  election.  But,  if  any  such 
election  be  not  either  approved  or  negatived  by  the  said  Visitors, 
within  twelve  months  from  the  commencement  of  a  vacancy  in 
any  Professorship  ;  such  election  shall  be  considered,  as  approved 
by  the  Visitors,  and  shall  accordingly  be  deemed  constitutional 
and  valid  ;  provided  always,  that  such  election  shall  have  been 
regularly  communicated  to  the  President  or  Secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Visitors  ten  days  at  least,  previously  to  the  expiration 
of  the  twelve  months  aforesaid. 

Art.  XXII.  The  Visitors  shall  appoint  a  standing  Com>- 
mittee,  to  ascertain  the  qualifications  of  Applicants  for  the  advan- 
tages of  this  Foundation.  Those,  whom  they  approve  may  be 
recommended  for  admission,  as  resident  Applicants  on  trial  for 
two  months  ;  and,  if  at  the  expiration  of  this  term  the  Faculty 
approve  them,  they  may  be  placed  on  the  list  of  resident  Stu- 
dents, till  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the  Visitors  ;  and,  if  up- 
on examination  by  the  Board  of  Visitors  they  be  then  appro- 
ved, they  shall  be  registered,  as  associate  Students ;  but,  if  not 
approved  by  the  Visitors,  after  careful  examination  and  the 
best  information  respecting  them,  they  shall  be  dismissed  from  the 
Foundation. 

Art.  XXIII.  No  Applicants,  except  Congregationalists  and 
Presbyterians,  shall  be  admitted  upon  this  Foundation  ;  and  a 


36 

Colle;fe  education  shall  be  ever  deemed  an  essential  condition  of 
admission,  except  only  in  some  rare  case  of  distinguished  talents, 
information,  and  piety. 

Art.  XXIV.  At  all  meetings  of  the  Visitors  decent  enter- 
tainment shall  be  made  by  the  direction  of  the  Board,  and  at 
the  expense  of  the  foundation  ;  and  all  other  necessary  expenses, 
attending  the  management  of  this  Foundation,  shall  be  defrayed 
out  of  the  income  of  the  said  Fund. 

Art.  XXV.  The  Board  of  Visitors  in  all  their  proceed- 
ings are  to  be  subject  to  our  Statutes,  herein  expressed,  and  to 
conform  tlieir  measures  thereto  ;  and,  if  they  shall  at  any  time 
act  contrary  to  these,  or  exceed  the  limits  of  their  jurisdiction  and 
constitutional  power,  the  i>arty  aggrieved  may  have  recourse  by 
appeal  to  the  Justices  of  the  Sijpreme  Judicial  Court  of  this 
Commonwealili,  for  tlie  time  being,  for  remedy  ;  who  are  hereby 
appointed  and  authorized  to  judge  in  such  case  ;  and,  agreeably 
to  the  determination  of  the  major  part  of  them,  to  declare  null 
and  void  any  decree  or  sentence  of  the  said  Vsitors,  which  up- 
on mature  consideration  they  may  deem  contrary  to  the  said  Stat- 
utes, or  beyond  the  just  limits  of  their  power,  herein  prescribed  ; 
and  by  the  said  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court,  for  the  time 
being,  shall  the  said  Board  of  Visitors  at  all  times  be  subject 
to  be  restrained  and  corrected  in  the  undue  exercise  of  their 
office. 

Art.  XXVI.  Every  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Visi- 
tors shall  be  introduced  with  prayer ;  after  which  these  Statutes 
shall  be  read  by  the  President. 

Art.  XXVII.  It  is  strictly  and  solemnly  enjoined^  and  left  in 
sacred  charge,  that  every  article  of  the  above  said  Creed  shall 
forever  remain  entirely  and  identically  the  same,  witliout  the  least 
alteration,  addition,  or  diminution.  But  we  reserve  to' ourselves 
the  right,  as  Founders,  jointly  to  make,  in  concurrence  with  the 
said  Trustees,  and  within  the  term  of  seven  years,  such  amend- 
ments or  additional  articles,  in  perfect  consistence  with  the  true 
object  of  these  Statutes,  as  upon  experience  and  due  considera- 
tion shall  be  deemed  necessary,  the  more  eirectually  to  secure  and 
promote  the  real  design  of  this  our  Foundation. 


37 

Art.  XXVIII.  Though  the  Founders,  first  above  named, 
coalesce  with  the  Founders  of  the  aforesaid  Theological  In- 
stitution, in  the  manner  herein  described,  with  a  view  more 
effectually  to  promote  the  cause  o[  Evangelical  Truth,  and  with 
an  ardent  hope,  that  the  -coalition  will  terminate  in  a  perfect  and 
indissoluble  union  ;  yet,  if  after  an  experiment  of  seven  years 
coalition,  upon  Visitatorial  principles,  it  shall  appear  to  the  Board 
of  Visitors,  that  the  Visitatorial  system  is  either  unsafe  or  inex- 
pedient ;  the  coalition  may  nevertheless  be  continued  upon  such 
other  principles,  or  system,  as  may  be  agreed  on  by  the  Trus- 
tees and  Visitors  aforesaid,  in  consistency  with  the  original 
design  of  this  our  Foundation  ;  or  the  said  Visitors  may 
withdraw  the  said  Fund,  (the  said  Trustees  however  not  to  be 
responsible  for  any  unavoidable  loss  from  depreciation  of  the  cur- 
rent medium,  or  from  the  Providence  of  God,)  as  upon  mature 
consideration  may  to  them  appear  most  conducive  to  the  glory 
of  God.  Or,  if  at  any  time  within  the  said  term  of  seven  years, 
contrary  to  our  most  sanguine  expectation,  the  said  Visitors 
shall  by  the  Trustees  aforesaid  be  denied  or  deprived  of  the 
regular  and  proper  exercise  of  the  power,  authority,  rights,  or 
privileges,  in  them  hereby  vested,  agreeably  to  the  true  meaning 
of  these  our  Statutes  ;  then  the  said  Fund  (saving  any  unavoid- 
able loss,  as  above  expressed)  shall  revert  to  the  said  Visitors, 
to  be  appropriated  by  them,  as  they  shall  judge  most  consistent 
with  the  original  design  of  this  our  Foundation.  But,  if  at  the 
expiration  of  the  seven  years'  experiment,  or  within  the  said  term 
of  seven  years,  the  Board  of  Visitors  and  the  Trustees  afore- 
said be  well  satisfied  with  the  safety  and  expediency  of  the  Visi- 
tatorial system,  and  that  a  perpetual  coalition  is  important  and  de- 
sirable ;  Union  shall  be  established  upon  Visitatorial  principles, 
to  continue,  as  the  Sun  and  Moon,  forever. 

Confiding  in  the  prudent  and  faithful  inspection  of  our  Visi- 
tors, and  in  the  wisdom  and  fidelity  of  the  said  Trustees  ;  and 
with  the  pleasing  hope,  that  they  will  religiously  appropriate  the 
income  of  the  Fund  aforesaid  to  the  great  object  of  this  Founda- 
tion, as  herein  described,  agreeably  to  the  Statutes,  herein  con- 
tained ;  we  do  under  God,  cheerfully  commit  this  our  Founda- 


38 

tion  to  their  pious  care,  under  the  limitations  before  mentioned, 
trusting  that  no  exertion  on  their  part  will  be  wanting  to  the  suc- 
cess of  an  Institution,  so  immediately  connected  with  the  sal- 
vation of  men  and  the  glory  of  God. 

To  the  Spirit  of  truth,  to  the  divine  Author  of  our  faith,  to 
the  only  wise  GOD,  we  desire  in  sincerity  to  present  this  our 
humble  offering  ;  devoutly  imploring  the  Father  of  lights,  rich- 
ly to  endue  with  wisdom  from  above  all  his  servants,  the  Visi- 
tors of  this  Foundation  and  the  Trustees  of  the  Seminary, 
and  with  spiritual  understanding  the  Professors  therein  ;  that, 
being  illuminated  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  their  doctrine  may  drop, 
as  the  rain  ;  and  that  their  Pupils  may  become  trees  of  renown 
in  the  Courts  of  our  GOD,  whereby  He  may  be  glorified. 

In  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals 
this  twenty-first  day  of  March,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  eight. 

Signed,  sealed,  and  ddiv-  MOSES   BROWN,  (S.) 

ered  in  presence  of  us, 

ttZtuZl  WILLIAM  BARTLET,  (S.) 

JOHN  NORRIS.  (S.) 


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